[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19568-19569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05758]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-24-NONE-0004]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Title Clearance 
and Loan Closing; OMB Control No.: 0575-0147

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural 
Housing Service (RHS) announces its' intention to request an extension 
of a currently approved information collection and invites comments on 
this information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 20, 2024 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov. In the ``Search for 
dockets and documents on agency actions'' box, enter the docket number 
``RHS-24-NONE-0004,'' and click the ``Search'' button. From the search 
results: click on or locate the document title: ``60-Day Notice of 
Proposed Information Collection: Title Clearance and Loan Closing; OMB 
Control No.: 0575-0147'' and select the ``Comment'' button. Before 
inputting comments, commenters may review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' 
(optional). To submit a comment: Insert comments under the ``Comment'' 
title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if available), input email 
address, select box to opt to receive email confirmation of submission 
and tracking (optional), select the box ``I'm not a robot,'' and then 
select ``Submit Comment.''
    Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's 
``FAQ'' link.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Pemberton, Management Analyst, 
Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 
260-8621. Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see, 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection 
that the Rural Housing Service is submitting to OMB as an extension of 
an existing collection.
    Title: Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0147.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or Households, Businesses, Closing agents/
Attorneys and the field office staff.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,214.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimate Number of Responses: 22,214.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,957 hours.
    Abstract: Section 501 of title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to extend financial 
assistance to

[[Page 19569]]

construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or rehabilitate dwellings, 
farm buildings, and/or related facilities to provide decent, safe, and 
sanitary living conditions and adequate farm buildings and other 
structures in rural areas. Title clearance is required to assure the 
Agency that the loan is legally secured and has the required lien 
priority.
    RHS will be collecting information to assure that those 
participating in this program remain eligible to proceed with loan 
closing and to ensure that loans are made with Federal funds are 
legally secured. The respondents are individuals or households, 
businesses, and non-profit institutions. The information required is 
used by the USDA personnel to verify that the required lien position 
has been obtained. The information is collected at the field office 
responsible for processing a loan application through loan closing. The 
information is also used to ensure the program is administered in 
manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. If 
not collected, the Agency would be unable to determine if the loan is 
adequately and legally secure. RHS continually strives to ensure that 
information collection burden is kept to a minimum.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of RHS, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (b) the accuracy of the RHS' estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments 
will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal 
Pemberton, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 260-8621. Email: [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Yvonne Hsu,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05758 Filed 3-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P